10 November 1914

Patriotic films proving popular

People in Jersey have been flocking to Wests’ Picture House this week. Drawing them is the latest in a series of patriotically themed films that have been showing in the Island.

People in Jersey have been flocking to Wests’ Picture House this week. Drawing them is the latest in a series of patriotically themed films that have been showing in the Island. These have proved to be a great hit with cinema-goers, resulting in full houses for many performances.

The most recent is a film called ‘Two Little Britons’, which stars Charles Rock, George Bellamy and Edith Flugrath. Its plot revolves around a story in which the British Foreign Secretary’s children unmask their teacher as an enemy spy. As well as a gripping storyline, the film has an underlying theme supporting a popular belief that through its wartime actions Germany poses a threat to civilised nations everywhere.

With these patriotic films clearly helping to engage Islanders in supporting the war effort, calls to close the Island’s picture houses and theatres have now receded. While a number of States Members and local church leaders remain uncomfortable over the idea of people at home enjoying themselves while others are fighting and dying, it seems that appropriately themed entertainment is acceptable.